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Letters to the Editor

+ Two-lane Fruitville support
Dear Editor:
I support Commissioner Shannon Snyder’s efforts to change Fruitville Road from four to two lanes in the blocks approaching US 41, to encourage development north of Fruitville Road. I probably would not have understood this suggestion had I not attended author Jeff Speck’s lecture in March, when he came to Sarasota. I later read his book, “Walkable City.” After that, I began thinking about Speck’s suggestions.
I realized when driving on Fruitville Road that there are many antique, furniture and other stores that I hadn’t even noticed while whizzing by at 35-plus miles per hour. I saw pedestrians standing bored on the side of the road, waiting for the long light to change so that they could cross the four-lane highway. I came around to the idea that, although there could be a delay for me as a motorist at times, there would also be an expansion of the downtown with a whole new opened-up area north of Fruitville Road. I’d suggest to anyone who opposes this idea to first read “Walkable City” to understand the thinking underlying this suggestion. I am glad Commissioner Snyder has the vision to understand it and propose further exploration of this idea.Joan Lovell
Sarasota